They're bullying little girls, these Democrat thugs. Abusive. They're nothing more than taxpayer-paid gangsters and it's high time we get in their faces and punch them the fuck back twice as hard.

Just like Barack Hussein Obama told them to do to us.

If you're sick of the Democrats bullying you, your paycheck, and your children, then get involved. Get registered and vote them the fuck out - along with any Republicans who don't have the stomach for the coming fight.

That's nice of you to say so. Personally, I enjoy our multiple beaches, the nationally recognized art muesem, discovery world, the city muesem and the brand new baseball stadium. You must have more fickle tastes.

There have been a handful of gutsy performers during this tantrum by the left—Althouse & Meade, of course, and that guy who stood his ground in the Capitol rotunda in the midst of the occupation. And maybe even Ramona Kitzinger before she was "counseled" by the local democratic establishment.

I think of Milwaukee like a Cleveland. A city that has lost a considerable population and didn't move forward with the new economy. Like it's glory days have come and gone. It's trying but it hasn't reached the promise land.

When I was like 16 I would drive to Park Avenue Club on Sunday nights. That club was amazing for a young kid. What happened to Park Avenue? Also, I used to go to that mall downtown and thought it was so fab. Grand Avenue?

I don't think a new museum or ball park makes a city. What makes a city is a thriving economy with cool jobs, excellent companies and hot people. Really hot people.

Some cities in America have been able to move forward and thrive while others seem to have stalled.

OK, is anyone else sort of disappointed that she leads off by touting "the enormity of what the Tea Party Movement has become?" The only reason that won't become a mocking video clip is becase the Tea Party's opponents don't know what "enormity" means either.

Lastly one of the most depressing things about Madison is the lack of hotties.

Yes, there are the college coeds but they are way too young and I am not into chicken.

It seems that when Madison people reach middle age they just say fuck it and let it all go to hell. Everything starts to droop, the faces become engorged, tits sag, asses expand, stomachs extend, hair is nasty. It is just sad.

Ya, Grand Avenue is mostly empty now. 75% vacancy or so? Boston Store is the last major store hanging on. I go to the food court (what I think is sustaining the place) and gamestop, but thats about it.

Grand Avenue was bought and sold twice in the last year. We'll see what happens to it under the new management.

Each city tries to have something catchy in their airports to sell to the tourists. What does Milwaukee have? First thing you see at the gift stores is a sweatshirt with a narrow pouch in the front center. It says it is to hold your beer bottle. I kind of like it.

It seems that when Madison people reach middle age they just say fuck it and let it all go to hell. Everything starts to droop, the faces become engorged, tits sag, asses expand, stomachs extend, hair is nasty. It is just sad.

Kathleen Falk, who was Dane County Executive built a bridge to nowhere-really it was a bridge to nowhere by Springfield Corners. My dad showed me the bridge which goes over the highway and then just ends. Nothing, you can't drive over it and the goal was for bikers but when they get to the other side of the bridge the bike path just stops. I think my dad said it cost like $75,000.

Wasn't one of the main contributing factors of the Great Recession our blind consumerism fed by a the voracious use of credit and buying expensive things we really couldn't afford and when the bill came due, millions found themselves unable to pay? That's what I remembered anyway.

Isn't the Tea Party's biggest complaint the runway Federal debt and deficit that's being financed to the tune of $.40 for every dollar and yet they're protested because of......

So no hand wringing over political indoctrination of our youth, as you did over kids in the Capitol? Remember when we all fainted over that a month ago?

Well I have to agree that her parents should have never let her on stage to spout her political tripe. Subjecting a 14 year old girl to a bunch of loud foul-mouthed leftists who could never be expected to set an example of class and decorum to our nation's youth is just a hair shy of child abuse in my eyes.

But then again, those kids at the Capitol building weren't exposed to loud foul mouthed Tea Partiers either.

Like I said, realy classy group you hitched that wagon to. You must swell with pride.

The only reason that won't become a mocking video clip is becase the Tea Party's opponents don't know what "enormity" means either.

Either? That implies she misused the word. She didn't. She could have chosen a word without a negative alternate meaning, but she clearly meant "immensity," which is a perfectly acceptable definition of "enormity" as well.

Shorter me: I think you're the one that doesn't know what "enormity" means.

Well, as Althouse pointed out - and most of us agreed - when the anti-Walker protesters had children demonstrating with them I'm not sure a 14-year old understands the significance of what she's advocating.

Does it matter? I mean it seems like all your side can do is make a tremendous amount of annoying noise as opposed to offer something approaching a logical counter argument. So when I say our current levels of spending are unsustainable your response is "Needs more cowbell!"

If you're simply trying to say you were being loud, boorish obnoxious people before and after the 14 year old kid got on stage then I'll accept that.

As far as the age goes...I started reading newspapers when I was about 12 years old. In a frendly manner, debating my teachers starting about age 15, mostly about the unsustainability of the welfare state.

So with the more free flow of information now, I can see a 14 year old being able to discuss political and current events issues.

Like it or not, but real feminist conservatives inspire young women to become real feminists themselves.

This is an impressive young lady. She could be an engineer or a teacher or even a politician (hope not... lousy life). One thing is for sure: millions of young women are inspired by the Palins and the Bachmanns almost as much as they are by the screamers who would rather silence their message than consider it.

This country is undergoing a cultural change. The old guard that thinks they won a culture war for keeps is constantly blindsided by this major event. This liberal democrat union thuggery will become part of Wisconsin history. It will probably be mentioned occasionally for decades. We want something more democratic than democrats want.

That's pathetic. She was answering Palin's call to fight like a girl! Of course grass roots builds up, instead of around one special sanctified leader. We're here to champion IDEAS, not Palin. This isn't the 2008 obama tour. We have something more important to say than you do.

Still, I think a good rule is if they aren't old enough to vote they really aren't old enough to give a speech at such a rally.

Point taken. Maybe she's just one of those rate teen agers who possesses the maturity to realize we're on a path to national insolvency and it will be her generation that the burden falls the hardest on.

But she is the person being tasked with paying for Obama's agenda. He won't propose tax hikes on his own voters, but his spending leaves that debt.

If the 14 year old isn't old enough to be credible, then she isn't old enough to be saddled with this debt. She doesn't consent to it. We should pass a balanced budget amendment solely so we hold ourselves accountable for our own government. Yes, that means tax hikes.

Does any one of you that are saying she shouldn't be there even wondering whether it was her choice? Seems to me that her parents raised a child that can think for herself. I certainly didn't see anyone pushing her onto the stage.

Don't cha know it's the tolerance of the left that demands they scream obscenities at a 14 year old. It's the tolerance they are sooo well known for that requires they shout disgusting filth & carry vulgar signs at rallies. Yep, they are filled with warm, tingly feelings of tolerance for all people.

"It's probably her "choice" to stay home during the school week and listen to Justin Bieber all daylong."

BS. She's old enough to make decisions, and she's a lot smarter than you're giving her credit for being.

Sure, her parents get to veto her choices, but any 14 year old that isn't capable of interacting on this level with the public is a loser. the public schools may want you to be a brainless child at 14, but in reality, you're capable of quite a lot by that age. It's basically a matter of wanting to.

When I was 14 I was rebuilding tractor engines and caring for a huge number of livestock. The average democrat voter was probably not. They were watching PBS and learning about sharing, as though they were 2. Not that I have a problem with some of that stuff, but at some point, people say 'enough' and stand up on their own two feet and do something.

By all means. It doesn't bother me that you pretend to derive pleasure from your trolling. It's also clear, from the consistent undercurrent of unfairness and venom in your comments, that you're not actually pleased. You're miserable that this is the best you can do... just cheer when someone beats you with an argument because they actually responded to you at all.

Once you've stacked the deck that far, any reply to you is an automatic victory. That's why losers eventually become trolls. They get pushed there by losing argument after argument.

I've seen you try to argue more intelligently, and it's not pretty. You just aren't that smart. You pretend you are, but you obviously realize you're just not on the same level as the average Althouse commenter. I guess there are a handful of you guys. you wound up here because you'd get banned at 99% of other blogs.

Hell, you were gloating that you won the 2008 election yesterday. It's just so pathetic. Anyway, don't let me stop you from congratulating yourself for the great importance and relevance of your trolling. You have 'fans'.

That's no surprise. I spent minutes instead of seconds dismissing you. That probably made your day, you freakin' loser.

I already explained that I don't mind if you want to be delighted that someone responded to you. That you're licking the screen over where anyone even noticed your trolling is not significant to normal people.

Maybe you should build a monument to me, since I've replied to you several times now. This is a big day for you!

Yawn, Shiloh. If I want to respond to a weird comment, I will. It goes without saying that sometimes the weirdo who left the comment will suffer hurt feelings and attempt to ramp up the trolling. So what? No one cares what you have to say unless you can be a lot more thoughtful than you seem the be.

you can't have it both ways. You can't ramble about how bad ad homs are while you spit out so many of them.

If you're taking my amused dismissal of your trolling as angry, I think that's even more pathetic. I guess what's really happening here is that you're trolling while afraid of a real reaction. You only pretend to crave 'fans' (any response), and when you get one, you freak out.

Anyway, go back to telling us how horrible Althouse is with this horrible ego, while also telling us how many fans you have on the internet, and how bad ad homs are. You don't look like an idiot at all, no siree.

OK, so you're going to list out all the laws that say she's not old enough to do something, as though the thing that gives someone the ability to make a decision is congress.

The thing that gives someone the ability to make a decision is free will. She seems pretty intelligent to me. I know 40 year olds who aren't as smart as she is. In fact, I'd say she's smarter than the average person out there.

14 year olds actually do drive cars legally in some jurisdictions. Historically, that age is capable of a lot of responsibility. I think it's for the best that they be guided by an adult, but if you weren't capable of a rational, responsible decision at 14, you were a total loser. Only a completely infantilized 14 year old can't make a decision.

I agree that it's lame to see young children used as stage props, but this is a 14 year old, not a 5 year old chanting some Obama chorus. I think political activism can be encouraged. In fact, you say we get this 'one summer', as though you have the right to tell 14 year olds they can't try to impact the course of politics with their summer.

It's up to her, not you. She appears to want to be up there, and I think it's great. If it's the case that she wants to do something else and is a mere prop, that is terrible... but let's not be paranoid.

No, I replied with a thoughtful explanation that you can't overcome despite trying very hard to.

You're embarrassing yourself, and you know it, which is pretty amazing given how low your reputation already was. Now you just want to outlast the scrutiny.

If only you realized that it's not my comments that are shaming you, but your desperate reaction. Your personal misery really seeps out. It's so awful it's almost art.

We'll continue seeing this 'I just made a mess when you tried to be thoughtful' crap from the left for a long time. We see it with screamers saying they will knock down cameras. We see it from Obama calling Ryan unamerican. We see it from trolls congratulating themselves for getting a response (which they make a big show out of ignoring, since they think ugliness is awesome).

I'm getting used to it, and I'm not worried about making you stop or delighting you with attention. If I want to respond to some weirdo, I will.

Hadn't used the word in a while so was unsure myself if I was clear on the meaning. Merriam-Webster's offers that there is debate on proper usage of 'enormity', but then puts forth compelling examples that Tricia's usage was certainly correct. Given the context an all.

"Enormity, some people insist, is improperly used to denote large size. They insist on enormousness for this meaning, and would limit enormity to the meaning “great wickedness.” Those who urge such a limitation may not recognize the subtlety with which enormity is actually used. It regularly denotes a considerable departure from the expected or normal... they awakened; they sat up; and then the enormity of their situation burst upon them. “How did the fire start?” — John Steinbeck. When used to denote large size, either literal or figurative, it usually suggests something so large as to seem overwhelming... no intermediate zone of study. Either the enormity of the desert or the sight of a tiny flower — Paul Theroux... the enormity of the task of teachers in slum schools — J. B. Conant... and may even be used to suggest both great size and deviation from morality... the enormity of existing stockpiles of atomic weapons — New Republic. It can also emphasize the momentousness of what has happened... the sombre enormity of the Russian Revolution — George Steiner, or of its consequences... perceived as no one in the family could the enormity of the misfortune — E. L. Doctorow".

Wow. congratulations. You are important! Someone replied to your trolling a few times!

But why aren't you trying to make an argument? You did that a few times and that went even worse than this "I am a troll! And you replied! You are my fan now because I said so! This is really obnoxious and no one cares!"

I guess what this really means is that you realized your more earnest arguments were *that bad*. Hell, that's great, because maybe you have some self awareness. Maybe you'll realize that if you're wrong, you should change your mind instead of living in this contradiction.

As your fan, I tried to read your blog, and now I realize you're probably mentally ill. sincerely, my intention wasn't to agitate you. If you have a loved one, perhaps share your blog with them and ask for their reaction. It's possible they can help you feel better about things. I know, I know, you think I'm being a jerk now... I'm not. Nobody's perfect... maybe you need a little help.

I guess you know what I saw... rambling paranoid anger. Your posts aren't coherent. Many of them lack a main idea at all. I find a lot of disturbed trolls on the internet, and yes, I find them interesting.

And every single time, they claim this is some kind of validation. I don't recall anyone repeating that same point as often as Shiloh does.

Just compare this, from an adult, unable to even pretend to have a point, against the 14 year old girl overcoming union thug hecklers to make a speech about the great issue of our time.

Shiloh: a child can handle this better than you do. I repeat my suggestion that you just forward this blog of yours to someone you trust, to ask them if they think you need a little help. If this 14 year old had a mental problem, she'd be brave enough to face it and deal with it. Are you? This isn't some insult masquerading as concern. I really hope you get better.

"If you place a child into the political arena - even if they wish to go - they will have to endure hoots and name-calling and the ugliness of that endeavor."

Yes, I concede this is a very good point.

This girl is facing a lot of kooks and anger. I doubt it's going to harm her directly, but it could have a major impact on her life. It could be that she becomes a conceited political animal, or that her teachers are jerks, etc.

Hopefully she has good people around to her to keep her well grounded, but you have a good point either way.

I just think we should recognize that 14 year olds are (sometimes) capable of making decisions. We should try to let them make decisions, while correcting them when they screw up (Which, of course, they will sometimes do). The last thing we want is to remove the decision making until they turn 18, IMO.

It's probably her "choice" to stay home during the school week and listen to Justin Bieber all daylong.

I dunno.

I do not get a Justin Bieber vibe from this girl. Why would you say that?

More like Hannah Giles.

And somehow I think she might be homeschooled. Those kids tend to more likely exposed to forensics (as in the debate kind) and public speaking, believe it or not. They also often (although she is probably too young) dual enroll in college while they are finishing high school.

She probably has a better grasp of the Constitution and how government is suppose to work than the typical Dem demonstrator all these many weeks (guys -- you've become a boring joke. Give it up --) in Madison.

The home schooled kids I know can pretty much wipe the floor with the average hip high school Beiber swooner. And they are quite happily teenagers too, as you seem to be quite worried about her, SMG.

She says she was at the tea party rally in 2009 ... so she has a history here.

And, SMG, If you place a child into the political arena - even if they wish to go - they will have to endure hoots and name-calling and the ugliness of that endeavor.

Apparently these days only if the audience includes a mob of tolerant union lefties who vote Democrat.

See, right there you reveal just how desperate you are for attention. If it weren't for being mocked, who'd notice you even exist? But you should understand that mocking you for braying like a jacka$$ is not the same as being interested in your braying.

Here's an idea: identify one of these facts, quote it, and then dispute it.

apparently you don't think that's as important as repeatedly noting that someone noticed you being a jerk. I get it... you're pretty lonely. I don't really think there's any shame in that. Perhaps you should turn over a new leaf and interact with us with more respect. I bet you'll come to enjoy it much more than this attempt to defend being a jerk.

"BS, your other post was quite a bit longer, w/more personal attacks, as per usual."

It was the same basic comment I left later. I cleaned it up, and removed a bit of repetition. It wasn't any more full of personal attacks than my other comments. It's not like I'm trying to hide my appraisal of you, though I thought a typo I made was bad enough to make my comment difficult to understand.

You really have the thinnest skin for someone who acts the way you do. What personal attack did I make, exactly?

"It's too bad she can't run for President next year. She'd be a better voter than most of us adults."

Sad, but in many ways, this promising young lady has more at stake than many of the people who will be voting themselves a share of this woman's livelihood. People born today didn't ask to be burdened with Shiloh'd anti psychotics and her mom's power scooter. They didn't ask to be burdened with things like GM's bailout. Frankly, I think it's unfair to make them pay for our war efforts, even though I think a war on terror is a necessity, since that war came to us.

We need some kind of balanced budget amendment. Perhaps, in times of emergency, we can go into deficit, but we must pay that off within ten years at most. I'm tired of constantly realizing how much worse a future we're leaving this kids.

Maybe she wouldn't have to take the podium against shrieking greedy gold plated union thugs if we weren't screwing her out of future wealth.

What a tough kid! Impressive to have built up such strength and nerve so young.

So no hand wringing over political indoctrination of our youth, as you did over kids in the Capitol? Remember when we all fainted over that a month ago?

Granted I'm on a crappy laptop, but can anyone tell me when all this booing begins? I'm starting to get a Kenneth Gladney vibe.

Your pathetic life must have been and is now one giant moral justification. You must have been the whiniest bitch in your household next to that pathetic monster that birthed you because clearly your father or whatever representation that sperm donor endowed to you was to fucking weak to plow some actual values into you.

Clearly this young girl at 14 gets it as opposed to the fucking fairy tales your ideological ilk instill into our children. You don't do it for the children, your kind do it to the children. Why don't you ask that 14 year old for one of her balls, I'm sure she could spare to give you one to supplant what you already lack and she'd still have 3 left larger than yours, you fucking buffoon.

But it is interesting your tone has gotten softer, the more I make you look like a fool!"

In the English I learned, you use a question mark at the end of questions.

The more you persist the clearer it is that you have a serious problem, which is why I feel sympathy for you. If someone thinks I'm foolish, it's merely for bothering to interact with a nut. Perhaps this futile attempt to hold the mirror up will accomplish nothing, but I'm willing to try, Shiloh.

"Granted I'm on a crappy laptop, but can anyone tell me when all this booing begins? "

You need to watch the evidence yourself before you insinuate that this is a manufactured controversy. Also, let's see an explanation for your assertion that Gladney's controversy was somehow illegitimate. That seems like a desperate effort to lie. That man was beaten by SEIU thugs not much unlike the thugs on display in WI. The left's more nutty rabble comes unglued when they see a black man who disagrees with democrat policies. It's just a fact of life at this point. A matter of historical record. Democrats don't like conservatives, but they absolutely hate black conservatives.

The way democrats have interacted with blacks throughout history is a fascinating topic.

"Checking post for punctuation lol as anal retentive TGI is all out of relevant ammo."

I could care less about people making mistakes, Shiloh. You were making fun of me, saying my usage is so bad that apparently English is a second language for me, and I noted that in mocking me, you didn't punctuate the sentence correctly.

You see, a theme in my mockery of your comments is that you employ projection.

I'm not sure what 'ammo' I need here. Do you think this is a fight?

I asked you a direct question. You accused me of attacking you, then deleting the attack: why did you make that up? If you're still claiming you didn't, what attack was this? That's why you criticized my English proficiency, right? To deflect from the twentieth time my argument beat your argument?

I live in one of those jurisdictions in which 14-year-olds can start learning to drive. Now, with my own child, I might not permit that. I've seen some do well and some not so much. It depends more on the individual than the age.

Likewise, I think it depends on the individual rather than the age as to whether it's appropriate for a 14-year-old to speak. The age 14 is just that, an age, not a measure of intelligence or literacy, or even of knowledge (the same could be said, for that matter, about 18 or 20 and so forth). I could see my own kid comfortable with wanting to speak out or give a speech at 14, and (unlike the learning-to-drive-thing), I really have little doubt that he could handle it if it's something he chose to do.

We are not talking about an elementary student here, for crying out loud, nor her being on a tour and being co-opted as a group to be used as a prop. How likely do you think she was **forced** to speak? How likely do you think it would be easy to force a 14-year-old to make a speech at a rally like that? She looked pretty willing to me.

Historically speaking, it's a relatively recent event to treat 14-year-olds as complete children, to be utterly protected. It wasn't all that long ago that farm kids, for one example, could and often were expected to put in an adult's day of work at junior high age. It wasn't all that long ago that people in their late teens married (and not just because they "had to") and started raising and supporting families.

Going further back, do some research on what some of the great historical figures had done and accomplished by the time they hit 18. (Heck, look back on what some not-so-famous people routinely did.) Even today, in some countries, teens who are not going on to higher ed leave school at 16 and start working. But--what?!?--it's somehow child abuse for someone just two years younger to make a public speech at a rally?

Puh-leeze. Give me a break. I don't buy that for New York minute or even a Wisconsin second, so long as as the individual 14-year-old was not forced.

Protecting "kids" is one thing. Infantilizing them is another.

A speech. As child abuse. When it seems clear this is something the (NOT a child) teen-ager wants to do and, clearly, is capable of doing well.

Again, I say: PUH-LEEZE!

And to accuse her parents of child abuse, or even imply that they're guilty of that even "borderline," is outrageous and borderline moronic.

This one-size-fits-all attitude toward the maturity of a 14-year-old and the individual abilities of a 14-year-old strikes me rather too damn similar to the much of the "zero tolerance" crap in, for example, public zeros, where platitudes and certitude and homogenization take the place of having to make individual judgments about individual people and situations.

This is partly why this is getting my dander up. We need LESS of that approach, not MORE.

This is merely talking to people about her opinions. It's great, but it's hardly the kind of responsibility I'd consider even challenging for a young teenager.

I dear family member, who recently died, was orphaned when she was 3 in the 1910s. she dropped out of school at 13 so she could help support the rest of her family. She never got an education, because of her sense of sacrifice, but all of her children became successful, and she died old and happy with an amazing life story.

Now there's a level of responsibility I don't think is fair to put on a kid. Making a speech? Give me a break. The only reason this is a bit scary is that the left is quite violent today. The racist and sexism and threats we see from the crazies is enough to make me wonder if Tricia will be safe in the coming years. Will her teachers give her a fair shake? I don't care... she can handle them, and it's important to stand up to bullies.

So my point is that the worries this is risky is actually quite a serious criticism of what's become of the political left. The reason you see so few thugs on the right is that we police our own.

Also, Iam, it occurs to me that we will need more and better leaders for a long period of time.

It took 16 years from the Boston Tea Party until the first state ratified the Bill of Rights. That's a long time, and it's not like the controversies about government intrusion began or ended at either of those points.

What Tricia is is a sign that the Tea Party will probably be even greater in twenty years than it is today. We have all these people who are impressed with the concept, and aware of the crime Obama and his party is committing against them. Tricia is on the hook, and won't forget that.

How many more like her are there? My experience at Tea Parties is that there are quite a few. The left is losing a fundamental culture war, and their argument is to project their worst sins while trying to trample the right with stupid thug tactics. It's stupid mainly because it is backfiring.

The internet had already changed politics as far as Obama's funding or organizing astroturf, but this is the first organic example. I'm not pretending the hecklers had this in mind. They're just mad.

"Hell, it's almost been too easy as you keep repeating your tired personal attack meme in every post."

I think I asked you twice to clarify what you were claiming when you made an accusation that I deleted a comment for reasons other than correcting a typo.

Now this, in your head, is a meme, and tired, and all this drama, but I just posed a simple question to you.

You do sound like an extremely nasty person. My image is of one of those unemployed fat people, cackling about their internet fights. Obviously fighting me is important to you, but what I find interesting is there's nothing behind your hostility. You're not even trying to make a point.

I have to wonder about people like you. You clearly need a little help, but you're not capable of asking for any.

BTW, the projection in this case is that you complain about being repetitive while you repeat for the umpteenth time that I'm a "fool". It's just an assertion... it's not even clear what you found foolish, if anything.

"But isn't it odd that everyone figures you for a female, when you're not."

I didn't realize. Apparently the name is very rarely used for boys. Obviously it's primarily a girl's name. Shiloh never corrected me, and I tried to be gender neutral, but yeah, the picture I have of 'him' is Deb Frisch, basically. Just a very angry, lonely, desperate liberal.

"So at least you can stop harping on that tired, immature meme."

What, based on your word? But you lied about me in this thread, so I know you're not honest.

Hey, I freely admit noting that you're probably fat is not a mature comment, or particularly insightful. I just assume you're trolling because that's the best thing you can find to do with your time. If it was possible to gamble over this, I'd bet Shiloh has a BMI over 30, no job, and is estranged from his or her parents.

"Again, re-checking post for punctuation, spelling , grammar."

You're the one who took on the role of grammar nazi, not me. You were projecting, remember? That's all you do.

I guess the ultimate projection here is that you're obsessed with Althouse, while projecting that obsession onto me for responding to your comments as thoughtfully as I can (which isn't much, given the nature of your angry little comments).

According to Paul L. Witt, PhD, assistant professor of communication studies at Texas Christian University, Fort Worth."The idea of making a presentation in public is the No. 1 fear reported by people in the U.S."

Helps put it in perspective. Then consider her audience. Some friendly (the happy cheering ones), some extremely hostile (the booing, hooting, yelling, one finger salute ones.)

JAL, I do apologize. You're right. This was completely my choice to exercise a little fascination with a crazy person. I am not familiar with Shiloh's history here, or anywhere else, and didn't know that s/he is a long standing troll (though that's pretty obvious). I do honestly want to know more about these people. The idea of putting so much effort into communicating absolutely nothing but ugliness and fighting is so strange. Shiloh and those like that know they'd be happier if they just had a normal discussion. I guess they are more interested in 'getting them' than in being happy.

Tricia Willoughby is much more interesting, and of course she deserves a lot of praise and respect. I think there are a lot of people like her growing up right now, and the Tea Party of today is probably going to be around for at least a few decades.

Anyway, I do apologize for the thread jack, which I did try to convey in an on topic manner to some extent... sometimes.

Meaning I also know the depravity that leftist's will go to in order to slick their way to power. My big problem with Ann, I guess, is that she lends any credence whatsoever to the leftist bullshit, in a admiral effort to be neutral, I guess. Though that's a very short pier.

"My big problem with Ann, I guess, is that she lends any credence whatsoever to the leftist bullshit,"

I'm no expert... hell, I don't even read this blog every week, but sometimes I get the impression Althouse is providing a stimulus for a discussion rather than trying to argue for a conclusion. The best way to ruin what is called liberals these days is to take it seriously, step by step. It's a disaster of a philosophy, and it thrives on politics and BS. Don't take it seriously, and some are convinced there might be something to it.

The worst presenter of liberalism is an honest liberal, IMO. Not that I know what Althouse's politics are (I have read she voted for Obama, of course).

My point is that there are better places to go for a discussion that starts off at a point that most liberal ideas are wrong. For some reason, the liberal trolls are much more aggressive here than those places.